The Los Angeles Dodgers took full advantage of this year’s All-Star Game not determining home-field advantage in the World Series, as they finished with the best record in baseball. That of course was only half the puzzle, and the Dodgers took care of the other piece by going 7-1 en route to reaching the Fall Classic.
Their only loss came to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. Other teams who reached the postseason, in particular the Houston Astros, struggled in playoff road games.
“We understand the advantage of playing at home, in front of our fans, how big they’ve been for us,” NLCS co-MVP Chris Taylor said.
“You know, you can talk about our record at home and the energy they bring, all the scenarios. That’s where we want to be — at home, in front of our crowd, in the World Series. We’re right where we wanted to be since the start of the year.”
The Dodgers won an MLB-best 57 games at home this season, and the win total was also their most in at Dodger Stadium in franchise history.
“We put ourselves in this position,” manager Dave Roberts said. “To be able to go back home and not to travel as much and put ourselves in that spot is obviously a benefit.”
What the Dodgers do have working against them — at least historically — is the team who is first to clinch a spot in the World Series and thus received more rest leading up to Game 1, has often not won the title. Roberts brushed aside any concern, and his club’s play thus far in the postseason has warranted the stance.
